O'Malley to veto wind bill

Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to announce he will veto a bill that would delay construction of a wind farm in Somerset County, according to an energy adviser to the governor.

The (Baltimore) Sun and The Washington Post are reporting the governor will make a formal announcement at 2 p.m.

The Daily Times is awaiting confirmation from O'Malley's office.

An energy adviser to Gov. Martin O'Malley says he will veto a bill that would have created a 13-month moratorium on the development of tall wind turbines within 56 miles of the U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River base.

Abigail Hopper, the adviser, said the governor will formally announce the veto Friday afternoon.

The bill would have delayed construction on wind turbines to wait for a study on how they could affect radar use around the base. Supporters argued it was important to consider the needs of the base, a big economic engine in southern Maryland. But opponents say it sounds a bad message to businesses and harms wind farm development in Maryland.

The measure would have threatened development of a wind farm in Somerset County on the Eastern Shore.